Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-12
THE GRAFTON MEETING.
The "EsgIe's' Bad Break--A Convention of
PostmAsters.

The Eagles" Bad Break--A Convention of
Postmasters.
To ne Editor Of he Register.
see in the Grafton Edgis of the 9TH a
tissue of lies headed David LeOnard in
Command" a part OF which is copied in
the h~teiigeReer of the Sth.
To start with, Hon. David Leonard was
not ut the meeting, and 1t was not held in
Collector McGraw's office, nor was Collect
or MeGraw present during any part OF the
meeting. The postmasters of Parkersburg
or FairmOnt were not present. This shows
how much truth there is in the article.
The meeting was called by the member
of the National Executive Committee (up-
on = request of the Chairman Of that Com
mittee) to decide upon the best place for
holding n State meeting to appoint dele
gates to the National Convention to he held
at Washington, ID. c., December Is, 1887,
The pOstmasters' meeting was not a "cat
LOFT gathering such as the editor OF the
Eaqle is in the habit Of attending, but was
held in the principal hotel with unbarred
doors. Among the pOstmasters present
was A. j. Biuaield, OF Tunnelton, Preston
county, VINO has been postmaster for IA
years, and il 4 Republican of the Preston
county stripe.
The Department had been consulted in
regard to such meeting, and gave its on
sent to hold the meeting. This meeting,
which represented three Congressional
Districts ofthe State, called a State meet
ing of the pOstmasters of the third and
fourth class to be held at the National
House, Washington, ID. c, December II,
1887. To set the EagIe'S mind at ease, |
would say she Department was at once
notified of the proceedings of the meeting,
and as soon as circular ~ out we will
send the ''cat-lOft" editor of the Edgte a
copy.
Ii would perhaps be well TO let the read
ers of the REGISTER know the true object
of this wonderful meeting.
Two years ago the POstmasters' National
Convention was held at Chicago, and they
decided upon a bill for their relief, which
was presented by Judge Peters, of Kansas,
and was known ~ the Peters Bill IN"
IL allowed pOstmasters oil the third and
fourth class rent, light, fuel, clerk hire
and the box rent. The present law does
not ALLOW either, although it cOmpels the
postmaster to furnish the boxes and post
Office equipment, yet the government
takes the revenue of the same. This
awful step the postmaSters have taken has
been recommended by every Postmaster
General for twenty-five years. | clip from
the annual report OF Hon. James n. Tyner
of 1SS0, the following:
A very large per cent, however, Of those past
masters DO exceed their allowances ami impose
burdens upon themselves which should be borne
hy the Department in order to meet the require
mentS OF the service. IL must De conceded that Il
policy that produces such consequences Is not
right Either the statutory promise to furnish
| clerical assistance should De met. or the law eX.
tending the promise should be repealed or mOdi,
fed, do not regard the law granting such al
lOwanceS for clerk hire aSOppreSiyeOn the GOV
eminent nor wrong in theory, and hence | deem
II but Just that the means to honestly execute Il
should be prOvided.-it0a. JCns y. TyTtT, An
RHGi Report, fSO.
From Hon. Frank Hatton's report o.
1882:
In my opinion the law should be 50 amended
a. 10 place the entire box rent revenue to the
the boxes, and who pays the rent Of the room OF
the space occupied by the boxes.
Of 1888: